Marine structure



April 16, 1946. A. L. L. BAKER MARINE STRUCTURE Filed March 21,- 1945 sheets-sheet 1 April16,1946. A. L. L. BAKER 2,398,351

MARINE STRUCTURE Filed March 21, 1945 '7 sheets-sheet 2 April 16, 1946. A. 1 L. BAKER MARINE STRUCTURE..

7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 21, 1945 Q EN l, RN QN QM @wwwa kan RJ w.

April 16, 1946.

A. L. L- BAKER MARINE STRUCTURE Filed March 21, 1945 'T Sheets-Sheet 4 vAmilla, 1946.. f. A. l.. L. BAKER MARINE STRUCTURE Filed March 21,A 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 `pri 16, 1946. A.-L. L. BAKER MARINE STRUCTURE Filed March 21,1945 'r sheets-sheet s April 16, 194s; A. ...,L. BAKER 2,398,351

MARINE STRUCTURE Filed March 2l, 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Apr. 16, 1946 2,398,351 MARINE STRUCTURE Arthur Lempriere Lancey Baken'Sevenoaks,

England A Application March 21, 1945,VSerial No. 583,989

l kIn Great Britain July 212, 1943 (ci: tsr-46) `Claims.

This invention relates to structures and particularly marine structures, adapted to function as piers or supports for bridges,`viaducts, or as dolphins', jetties, Wharves or the like-berthing places for vessels and has for its object to provide structures adapted more-particularly for transport by water to the place for their erection.'

The invention consists, broadly, in a structure comprising at least two strut elements pivctally connected one with the other at each of their two opposite` sides and at points spaced apart in their length by at least two distance pieces` or links forming with the'strut elements in effect sides of parallelograms and furnished with steel wire ropes or equivalent flexible members anchored adjacent to one end of a distance piece and taken over a pulley or runneradjam; to the opposite end of'an adjacent distance piece and thence to a winch or equivalent means whereby the effective length ofthe flexible member between its anchorage and the Winch may be shortened to cause the strut elements to move away from one l another while remainingin parallel relationship so that the lower endsof the -two strut elements may seat at :differentlevels on the surface on which the structure is'erected with lthe strut elements substantially vertical and parallel.

A structure so formed, it .will be appreciated, may be collapsed, that is to sayrthe two strut y elements may be brought together for facilitating storage and transport to the place at which the structure is to be'erected, when by tensioning or shortening the eiectivelength of the flexible members associated with them, the strut elements may be moved apartin the operation of erection.

Eachfof the strut elements will normally constitutea frame andinV most casesthe two strut elements will be connected one with the other on each side by more than two distance pieces.V In such case the steel wire ropes or equivalent flexible members will be anchored adjacent to one end of a distance piece orrlinkand taken yover a pulley or rolleradjacent to the opposite end of the next adjacentf distance piece or link,`along the link and generally parallel therewith over a furtherA pulley or roller and from this point over -a pulley or roller located adjacent to the opposite end of the next succeeding distance piece or link and then to a winch associated with it. t

As will be appreciated, the structure may comprise any desired number of distance pieces or f links greater than two arranged on each of its `sides and with the uppermost links or distance piecesv there may be associated a platform for use by theoperators of the Winches. l

Generally, atleast two ilexiblememlbers arranged in the mannerabovementioned, will be associated with the links or distance pieces on each side of the structure, one suchilexible member being anchored adjacent to( one end of one link or distance piece andthe other adjacent to the. opposite end of the samelink or distance piece, so that when erected the iiexible members will extend diagonallyin two senses across the parallelogram formed b y the Vlinks or `distance pieces and the partions of the strutsw'ith which they are associated. t

lCross bracing or ties may be provided which will extend in plan generally diagonallybetween the strutelements. l

In other words the cross braces or ties will extend from the lefthand side l,of one such strut element to the right-handside` of the other strut element, and between the righthand side ofthe first-mentioned strutfelement the left-hand side of the second-mentioned element.

These ties may be rods hinged at one of their ends to a strut element, the opposite endsextending througha ring and being associated with nuts or the like whereby a desired degree of' tension The npivotal connection between the links or distancepiecesv and the strutelements may be secured by providing on the latter brackets'or lugs for pivots connecting the distance "pieces or links individually to the strut elements. t

` Normally, in accordance with the invention,

V the lower'ends of the strut elements are furnished with spuds, footings or the like adapted to pro- Vide a suitable grip or area of support against the bottom, on which the structure is erected, and these spuds or the like will in general be hingedly connected with the strut elements.

Preferably, the strut elements are provided with means whereby their lengths may be adjusted to bring their upper extremities, when the ,structure is erected, to a common level.

Thus, the upper ends of the strut elements may be provided with members telescopically engaging them to enable a horizontal platform or the like to be secured to the structure.`

, vFurther, the upper ends of the strut elements may be formed as rbollards.

The strut elements, distance pieces and fenders, if provided, may be formed of l any appropriate material, for instance, timber, structural steel, or

reinforced concrete and where `necessary or dcsirable they may be provided with auxiliary floats for floating-them into position and ballast for stabilizing them or facilitating their erection.

rected upwardrwhen it is erected.

`eeelirifi.'

Conveniently, the strut elements and optionally also the distance pieces or links, and the fenders, if provided, are formed of tubing and are arranged to be filled or partially filled with air so that the structure may be floated into position, after which the air may be released from the tube, water being admitted, to destroy the buoy.- ancy of the structure so that the ends of the struts, in the case of a marine structure, will sink to andY rest upon the bottom, in the erection of the structure. l

In this case suitable gates or portsvand--connections will be provided in the tubes to permit aconlpenyingdrawings, in which.:

VFigure 1 illustrates in sideelevation a structure in accordance with the invention in the form of a dolphin alongside which vessels may be berthed, the structure being shown in the collapsed position for towing.

or allow water or air or ballast to Abe lejected orl introduced into them.

Accessory oats may be detachably associated'l with the structure for floating it into position-- and portions of the strut elements and thesplids,

if provided, may be filled with sand, Water or 'I other'ball'ast, to render them less buoyant than those'poltions of the structure which will be di- Where ay structure is designed 4to be employed as a dolphin, jetty or wharf, preferably in accordance with the invention, to the strut elements there are'secured rigid fender elements suspended by'meanspermitting them to be displaced in an inward direction bythe pressure exerted against their; or `avesselin'berthing and to oppose a progressively increasing resistance to such displaceinent.

' In other words, the fender elements, generally in respect to'their structure and theirsuspension,

may be as described.v in British specification No.

Wherefender elements are provided-,the strut relemeritsy'are furnishedwith brackets-at appropriate pointsfo'r the suspension of the fenders V i which themselves be tubesl adapted, whenthe 4 structure is in position,V to be filled with water,A

concrete. .Sandor the like@ :hese .brackets I ny be` biiurcated elements formed, for instance, of tubing andlwill be provided with links byl which suspension ofl the fender. elements may be effectedvby the 'aid of chains or the like, so that intheir displacement theyl will operate tooppose an increasing degree of resistance todisplacement in the ber-thing-oi avessel. Y

. In the. storage and, transport, detachable straps may be providedA for securingv the fender elements immovably in position against the strut elements with which they are associated, When the struts ture fully erected on an uneven base.

'Figure' 4 is a side elevation thereof, and

j `Figure 5 is a plan view.

' Figures 6 and '7 are-views showing certain details qn-aiarger scalaand. f Y

Figure. d is a. view of a further View also on a larger .sca1.e.showinecertain .further details.

The. .structure illustrated. comprises. four strut elements. each consistineof a .length 0f tubing l provided at one end riti-1.a closure-2. on. which is mounted bollards 3, two oi the bollardsbeing provided with eyes 4. fornite towing the structure into position when collapsed- 1 Its opposite. end closed. witha plus 5 provided with a bfnrcatsdextension. B .to Awhich is pivotally connected by a nin l a font-u8 which in the position for towing; is drawn 0r lashed into contact with. a tlrnberfpod 9,-V

O n each of the str-llt elements there is provided a bifurcated bracket; 150 to which is connected a transverse member Il in thflm: of a tube by means. of av pin. lf2'.- riassing; through. a perforated f lug I3 which closesk the and the tube.

supporting they fenders are brought to'a vertical position by operating Winches supported on the upper links or distance pieces, the fendersl also automatically assume a verticalposition although the footings ofv the supporting struts are atI dif- `ferent levels. Also 'if through settlement or scouring action afterY erectionh the ,footings of the supporting strutstake up diierent level,s'the fenders can atA any timebe restoredjto a vertical position- When erected,a platform or stagingmaybe secured in position onjthe upper end'A of the str-ucture and such a staging kmaybe arranged to extend between two or more adjacentV structures of this character to provide a bridge, or between one of such `structures andabutments positioned at each side 'of the space to be bridged in which case preferably there wouldbe employed strutelements` provided'with members t'elescopicallyi engaging themv to enable the Vheightofthe-supports fo'the platform to be adjusted as desired;

A plurality of structures of the kindin ques- .On the strut elements there are .provided also bifurcated' brackets;` L1 fOImQ :the construction illustrated by sectionszof .plate-welded to the member and between 'biriurcationsf .oiithis bracket there is engaged a. biurcatedi lug Miami: 2f pulley le by means. of: a; pin 2.0;v

'rnebifurcated'lug i8. isfalso formed-oi sections ofmetal: plate welded; to a plate-.closing the; end of thetubularmember'zl which-.forms an upper transverse element or the. structurel.

Further, tothetubular-portions, or the strut elements .there aresecuredbililcated brackets 22 .also formed oiitube and: provided with closures 23 which form. supportsior Yeyeboltsg,211v to.l which are, connected? slings. 25,. 25a: suspending; fender elements 2t formed: of; tube and: furnished. with timberY rubbing: pierces 2L.; 'f

At' one end: theseffenden elements are; closed and at the other; endy they,- areiprovidedzwthf: lids 28. which when. raised` Willlperlnit. alldz or. other loading materiali toibo .'intrslucedl into; them;

When in. positioniert-towingthesezfender eiementsare. tiede tothe 17111.19: 'elements by vstraps 29 whichlarefremovedvr mathe;Structurefis-erected. Oni each ofthe. transyerse; elements;- Z-Lvvhich formv links orv distance piecesbetween the, strut eiements, there are.-secursdlbyssectionso plate sazforming hracketsia nlatfnrml 0n which' are mountedfwnches x i l' About: the ld1 vur,ns.olfz t, esef Winches.; there are engagedA cablesL 33t-each; of which; passes over a pulley I Stand' a pullyfl itheend; beinganchored at 34 to the transversazfmeinber.: Y Y' Thesel Winches are operated in erecting and attesa i "collapsing the'structure-and when the structure is erected the cables are" each engaged by a clamp 35u with which is associated a4 turnbuckle 36,' one end `of which is anchored to fa bracket 31 `on the upper transyersefm'ember, the purpose of the `clarr1p"`and turnbuckle being to secure theffinal adjustment .and securing ofthe cable.` The` construction of this clampa'rid-turnbuckle' will be described in greater detail below.

On two of the strut elements there are provided indicator quadrants 38 with which co-operate index pointers 39 by which in the erection of the structure the inclination of the strut elements may be determined.

On the strut elements adjacent to their lower end there are provided collars 40 to which are connected lugs 4| to which one end of a tie 42 may be connected.

Each of the upper transverse elements is provided with a collar 43 to which is secured a lug 44 with which a tie 45 is also connected.

These ties are secured respectively to shackles 46, a, provided on members to which are pivotally connected pulleys 41 and about these pulleys there is passed a cable 48, one end of which is y permanently connected to a turnbuckle 49 While the other end of the turnbuckle is provided with means by which one or other of the links of the chain 56 may be engaged so that the element as a whole will constitute a stay.

On each of the collars 43 there is provided a further lug 5l with which is connected one end of a link 52 the opposite end of which` is connected with one end of a turnbuckle 53 the opposite end of which is connected, as shown in Figure 8, to the bifurcated bracket 39, a similar arrangement being provided on the opposite side of the upper transverse element to function as torsion resisting elements for the bracket.

When the structure is erected there may be arranged to connect the strut elements diagonal ties 54 adjacent the ends of which may be provided with turnbuckles 55.

Each arm of the bifurcated brackets 22 is provided at its end with an element 56 carrying a roller 51 adapted to guide the fender element in its displacement into the opening between the arms.

The joint between each of the feet and its associated strut element is arranged as a universal joint as may be seen more clearly from Figures 6 and '1, the universal joint being secured by the pin 1 above referred to and a further pin 58.

With the feet, each of which is provided with a peripheral ilange 59 and diagonal webs 60, there is associated a perforated tube 6I connected by a iiexible pipe 62 with a rigid pipe 63 secured to the strut.

This pipe is continued to a convenient position adjacent the platform and is designed to permit compressed air to be expelled throughthe perforations to facilitate the seating of the foot on, for instance, a sandy bottom. l

In towing, the whole of the tubular elements will be maintained full or partly full of air and. to this end with the several tubular elements there are provided connections by which air may be introduced into them and cocks or valves whereby water may be permitted to enter and displace the air in the operation of erection.

To facilitate the release of air and expulsion of water, the several tubular connections may be taken to a convenient position adjacent to the platforms and connected to a common header furnished with valves whereby air may be permitted toI enterA or escape from the tubes, and furjtherthere-niay be associated valves such as is 'shown inFigure 3 applied to a fender element towing, there are provided lashing elements which may be secured about'the bollards or otherwisein such manner that they may be conveniently released when necessary.

I claim:

1. Structures and particularly marine structures, adapted to function as piers or supports for bridges, viaducts, or Vas dolphins, jetties, Wharves or the like berthing places for vessels comprising distance pieces, at least two strut elements pivotally connected one with the other at each of their two opposite sides and at points spaced apart in their length by at least two of said distance pieces and forming therewith the sides of parallelograms, pulleys on the ends of certain of said distance pieces, exible members.

each anchored adjacent to'one end of other of said distance pieces and taken over the pulley on theopposite end of the adjacent distance piece, and adjusting means connected with each flexible member whereby the eiective length of the flexible member between its anchorage and the adjusting means may be shortened to cause the strut elements to move away from one 'an--V other while remaining in parallel relationship so that the lower ends of the two strut elements may seat at diierent levels on the surface on which the structure is erected with the strut elements substantially vertical and parallel.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which each of the strut elements constitutes a frame and in which each of two such strut elements are connected one with the other on each side by more than two distance pieces.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the pivotal connection between the distance pieces and the strut elements is formed by brackets and pivots connecting the distance pieces individually to the strutelements.

4. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the lower ends of the strut elements are furnished with footings adapted to provide a suitable grip against the bottom on which the structure is erected.

5. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the lower ends of the strut elements are furnished with hinged footings adapted to provide a suitable grip against the bottom on which the structure is erected.

6. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the upper ends of the strut elements are provided with bollards.

7. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the strut elements are formed of tubing and are arranged to be lled with air so that the structure may be floated into position, after which the air may be released from the tube, water being admitted, to destroy the buoyancy of the structure so that the ends of the struts, in the case of a marine structure, will sink to and rest upon the bottom, in the erection of the structure. 8. A structure as claimed in claim 1 designed to be employed as a dolphin, jetty or wharf provided with rigid fender elements suspended from the strutV elements and displaceable in an inward direction by the pressure exerted against them of a vessel in berthing and operable to oppose a progressively increasing resistance to such displacement.

elementscarred by sgd suspegsiqnbmeqpses f .displaceable nwarqlyhy pressureA and `operable to'exert a, progressively increasing resistance to inward dsplsfemenh. s. 10. A structure as clai ed in claim 1 provided with brackets, on j;he.,s.t1u`t.e1ements, Ysuspension isf c-ari'ed bysf brackets, and `ljigid fender lements cg'rreiljy said 'suspension means as disillaeble *l pdly, bypreissure and operable to 'exert ..ijrgressively icre'asing resistance to ni'rd ,disblbemenm said brackets being formed of tbifg.. v

ARTHUR LEMPRlERE LANCE'Y BAKER. 

